ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationObama · D

Presidential Determination

Provision of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of Brazil

President Obama certified that Brazil meets statutory requirements to receive U.S. assistance for aerial drug interdiction, finding that illicit drug trafficking poses an extraordinary threat to Brazil's national security and that Brazil has adequate procedures to protect innocent life during interdiction operations. The determination authorizes continued or expanded U.S. support for Brazil's counter-narcotics air interdiction program under Section 1012 of the FY1995 NDAA.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 62793

Impact dates

  1. Federal Register publication and congressional notification

Key directives

  • Certify Brazil meets criteria for U.S. drug interdiction assistance under 22 U.S.C. 2291-4
  • Secretary of State to publish determination in Federal Register
  • Secretary of State to notify Congress of this determination

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Determination takes effect upon signing; Secretary of State to publish in Federal Register and notify Congress

Near term (90d)

  • Federal Register publication expected

Long term

  • Ongoing U.S. drug interdiction assistance to Brazil continues under statutory framework

Risks & tensions

  • Aerial interdiction carries inherent risk of civilian casualties despite certification of warning procedures
  • Certification based on executive judgment of 'extraordinary threat' and adequacy of foreign procedures—limited transparency for verification
  • Continues pattern of U.S. counternarcotics support that may implicate sovereignty concerns or operational incidents
Presidential Determination: Provision of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of Brazil · Executive Orders